"Come to me, all of you who are frustrated and have had a bellyful, and I will give you zest." (Matthew 28:11, The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by Clarence Jordan)

Sunday, October 14, 2007

SCHIP Could Come Down to Marshall's Vote

I know you're probably sick of hearing about SCHIP, Jim Marshall and the vote to override next week, but you're just going to have to bear with me for a few more days. The vote to override is expected to be on October 18th-this Thursday. In the senate, we have the necessary votes to override Bush's veto, and in the House the margin is expected to be razor thin-maybe just one vote. Marshall's vote.

People from all across the country will be focused on Rep. Marshall and the choice he makes. We need to be focused on changing his mind. There are many ways you can choose to be heard.1) You can throw a few dollars to Blue America, who will be running a powerful ad in the Telegraph next week.2) Sign the petition3) Write him an email - jim.marshall@mail.house.gov4) Call his office, and tell him to vote to override the veto.Phone: (202) 225-6531Fax: (202) 225-3013Phone: (478) 464-0255Fax: (478) 464-0277

The final call will rest with Jim, but next week is your chance to make one too.

I'm not sure this vote is what Marshall wanted to become famous for, but, so be it. I can't remember the last time so many different 'forces' have acted in concert in an effort to convince members of Congress to do the right thing. I don't know what will happen, but I bet if there were a national ballot on this legislation it would win the overwhelming support of the American people. I know Jim Marshall believes that providing access to health care to the children of the working poor is the right thing to do, a fact that makes his vote harder to stomach. I'm hoping that Marshall will ignore his consultants and listen to his head, his heart, his constituents-and do the right thing.

Marshall's failure to support this bipartisan legislation designed to continue and expand access to health care for children of the working poor (how controversial can that really be?) has drawn attention from Georgia and national blogs as well as the msm. Nationally, democrats now see Marshall as the guy who failed to support children's health care, but he has an opportunity to be the hero instead of the goat. A vote to override from Marshall would undoubtedly take the cover from others who would then follow his lead.

Well, it looks like Dem's nationaly are ready to show some intestinal fortitude. Maybe DuBose and Calvin can get GA Dem's to step up unified and show some force. Maybe. SCHIP is a domestic issue that makes or breaks a party. C'mon DuB and Cal, get every singe GA state rep and state senator, with Mike Thurmond and Thurb Baker, to stand behind you on the capital steps and speak out on this with force.What do you stand for?

Democrats Vow New SCHIP Push They nearly concede defeat in their effort to override Bush's veto of the first version.Los Angeles TimesOctober 15, 2007

House Democratic leaders, almost conceding defeat in their quest to override President Bush's veto of a $35 billion expansion of the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program, promised to pass another version of the bill after an anticipated showdown this week. Republican leaders say they're confident the veto will be sustained.